MikeinBuffalo

Did the owner have 8 foot legs?


Seriously though, nice bikes

trainman999

No only 71/2 foot legs. Seriously though I hope it doesn't hold it against me I stuck that horrid post back in it for it's initial mug shot. Maby I'd better let it wrap it's self around a good Campy post ,and try out some light tubulars so it feels wanted and appreciated.

rccardr 

1987 Schwinn Prologue. Sold as a frameset only, and only for one year. Built under contract to Schwinn by Panasonic using Tange Prestige tubing and Tange dropouts. Typically built up at the LBS based on the customer's selection of components. If I recall correctly, @Scooper once said that it was as good or better than any frame built anywhere in the world in the late 80's.


This is the third- and nicest- one to pass through The Lab. It's 55cm square, so a little smaller than I usually ride, but used a Cinelli 115 stem on the Nitto bars to make up the difference in the top tube. Hoped to use the pictured Shimano 6400 aero seatpost, but it's a bit too short so will be on the lookout for something polishable & appropriate but somewhat longer.


What better to put on a one-year-only frame than a one-year-only groupset? Shimano 1051 7 speed was, to the best of my knowledge, only available in 1989, as tricolor-based 1055 was released in 1990. I just love 1050/1051 for it's utter reliability and simple design, and collected primo 1051 components for several years to put together a really nice group. Replaced the original 52/42 Biopace rings with a 50 tooth FSA and a later Shimano 39.


The hubs are actually rare 1050 6 speed freehub units converted to 7 speed using (you guessed it) a 1055 freehub, axle and cones. Have had those Mavic CXP33's in storage for a while, just waiting for a bright red build to match 'em. Spokes are Sapim DB's. Hope to bring this one to some vintage events around the country in 2017!

Hardrock23

Beautiful! ^

plonz 

+1. Totally digging those red wheels on that bike. Well done!

Lascauxcaveman 

Man, you really know how to pick 'em Doc. And you really know how to build 'em up! Mavic makes RED rims? Who knew?

rccardr 

Thanks, guys. Those are Mavic CXP33's, which at the time of production were Mavic's top offering. More frequently seen anodized silver, but as you can see the red ones are particularly tasty.

tyler_fred

Nice work Doc! I agree totally with you on the Shimano 1050/1051. I have it on three of my bikes with nary a problem...

T Stew

Nice Prologue @rccardr I think the Prologue might be my favorite bike.

I picked another one to add to my collection recently, from a forum member here who also happened to be in state.

Schwinns very first aluminum bike, '88 Ontare. Seems to be very rare, only made one year and they didn't even list it in the catalog. Or actually they listed it as the Avion but changed the name after the catalog was produced I guess. The pic in the catalog doesn't even have a name on the frame! Schwinn 1988 Lightweight Bicycles -- Avion













Sadly I have not ridden it yet, need to replace the tires (they are original and dry rotted) and get cables. I have two other build projects in the cue, my Prologue might be getting modernized and my Paramount 9c I've got a modern build for it coming too.

Lascauxcaveman 

Dang, I'd be almost afraid to; that thing is almost too clean to let outside.

Very pretty, and pretty rare

bmthom.gis

My '88 Prologue. Paint is rough, so she isn't quite a looker...but more of a beater/sleeper. I got the bike on CL for $75 with a lot of DA 7400 (RD, FD, shifters) and a sheared off Mistral crankset. Crankset replaced with a DA 7402 and NIB bottom bracket. A friend gave me the wheels - campy hubs with Mavic SUP rims (I think one of open pro, the other a different). The wheels that came with it are Suntour LePRee hubs with gold anodized Araya rims. Nice wheels, but I didn't like the rims for this bike. These are mated to DA 9 speed barcons...and amazingly enough the indexing works. Rounding out is a Falcon headset. She comes in right at 22.5 pounds with pedals and bottle cages.

I can't wait to start showing up at group rides with her! At some point will upgrade the saddle, and whenever I get around to it will put on clipless pedals and reroute the rear brake cable/housing to the other side of the stem.

T Stew

Nice Prologue, wow for $75 that is a deal. At least you can't see the 'roughness' in the pics
Nice mix of parts to glad its working out

Well I don't plan on it being a daily driver. I've got enough good riders now that I'm covered, this one was more for the collection. But I got to ride it for fun on a nice day. Very curious how the vintage aluminum is, especially with a chrome-moly fork. It does have the infamous crack on the quill seatpost, but being fairly light and the fact I'll likely only have it out for some easy strolls on the nice paved rail trail here I think I'll just leave the seatpost alone. Flog showed me how to DIY repair it though if I go that route.

RiddleOfSteel

Man you guys with both of those Prologues and that is-that-new??? Ontare (learned a new bike!) are making me swoon. I picked up two Schwinns recently, but in the opposite direction age-wise. Maybe this Sunday at the Seattle bike swap will change that... Beautiful stuff, guys.

plonz 

Haven't posted a bike on this thread since my Tempo https://www.bikeforums.net/18269636-post464.html

Unveiling my 1989 Circuit fresh off the restoration stand. I built this one to be a longer-range rider (50-80 miles) using a frame that actually sort of fits me and 25c tires. Sold off the original Sante group and replaced with Dura Ace 7400 SIS 8-speed. As much as I liked the Sante group, it really didn't work with the '89's silver graphics (worked much better with white graphics on '88). Plus I only ride 175mm crank arms.

Anyway, it weighs in at 23.4lbs as pictured. Ambrosio Excellence wheels probably a little heavy but oh so nice! Selle SMP Pro also a little portly but I like it.

Couple of shout outs to BF contributor who helped make this build possible:On to the pics. To be honest, not my favorite scheme but again, this one was all about the riding.

DSCN2867 (800x600).jpg

DSCN2861 (800x600).jpg

DSCN2844 (800x600).jpg

jethin

Looks great @plonz. I'm sure that hot rod will chew up the miles and fast. Nice work!

RiddleOfSteel

Looks good, man. I agree with your choice of going from Sante to Dura Ace, as much as I like Sante. The chrome fork, for me, is key in determining the 'composition' of the bike. Much of the 7400 stuff (or, well, cranks and brakes mainly) is a high polish finish which matches the chrome fork. Adding more white like Schwinn did with the Sante creates too many competing colors, IMO.

Sante components have a barely yellow-y tint to them when compared with brilliant white (usually the slightest hint of blue) paint jobs, or so I found out with a Trek 1200. Kept the dark colored components that looked killer on it. My once 1989 Temp was dark grey metallic with silver text and looked fine with silver 105 components and would have probably been fine with 600 stuff too, but I had to work at making things 'match' on it. Still wish it was a 25" instead of a too-small 24"...

Have fun with this one!

dpicare26

[IMG][/IMG]

1988/89 Schwinn Circuit.
3x10 speed. Ulterga RD, 105 cranks, FD and Shifters. Only original bits are Sante Brakeset and headset.

Arrowana

I got this 1989 LeTour for free with trashed wheels and no crankset. I also had built a nice set of single speed wheels that needed a home, so they naturally met up and turned into this:





It might not have gears or drops anymore, but I did pass quite a few roadies today on it. At 21.2lbs, it's also my lightest bike by a decent margin.

jamesdak 

Just thought I'd repost two of my Schwinns now that I've made some minor changes.

First is the 87 Circuit. Installed a set of Campagnolo Zonda wheels and some red highlights to the black bar tape. I think the black rims go well with this. Still enough shiny bits to not be boring. Oh and I took it out today for the first time since winter set in. Had to fight 30 mph winds with it but it was still a joy to be back on.



And then the first full shot of the 87 Prologue since fixing the funky bars and swapping in a matching saddle. Had the balky RD overhauled and it got worse. Time to get hunting a new DA 7400 RD for this one so I can get back to enjoying it.



Still hunting the 87 Paramount to go with these....

jamesdak 

I like it!

jamesdak 

Wow, that is so beautiful. Makes mine look pitiful.

Wanna trade?

sdn40

The offset seat post on the Circuit really gives it an interesting dimension. Can't go wrong with the black either.
These higher end 80's Schwinns are good bang for the buck if you are patient. Under rated due to mom and pops bikes

plonz 

Thank you JD. I've been hunting for the right seat position for that SMP on the Circuit and I think I finally got it. Rode it on a shop ride on Saturday and quite impressed with how well the old bird accelerates to 30+ when called upon. Take that you carbon-festooned pack of weekend warriors!!!

I have to say though, yours looks like it could be even quicker. Those rims go well with the '87.

jamesdak 

Well it did get up to over 28 mph real easy today.... with the wind at my back.

This was the first time out with those wheels and it was too windy to really judge them today.

RiddleOfSteel

Great looking Le Tour, man! Champagne, silver, and black go well together when done right and this is very cleanly done. Looks like 52/19 gearing? I usually run something around that because it's cruising speed I want, not hill-climbing (that's what gears are for!). Makes sense that you'd pass some other roadies.